Firearm Theft Up 32 Percent in Tampa

TAMPA, FL – Legal gun owners can help take a bite out of crime by taking action to prevent their firearms from falling into the hands of criminals.

That’s the word the Tampa Police Department is trying to spread as it’s reporting a 32 percent uptick in the number of stolen firearms reported in the city limits so far in 2015. Between January and November, the police department has fielded calls about 375 stolen weapons. While police do report stolen weapon recovery is also up 27 percent during that time period, the need to prevent guns from being stolen or lost in the first place remains strong, officials wrote in an email to media.

The department estimates it has taken about 1,000 illegal guns off city streets this year. The number doesn’t include the 520 guns collected during a June buyback program either.

“We’re doing everything we can to take illegal firearms off the street, but residents can take steps to help us keep our city safe,’’ said Tampa Police Chief Eric Ward.

With 135 reports of firearms stolen during home and business burglaries and another 105 reports of guns being stolen out of cars, police are asking residents to keep their weapons in safe places, out of plain sight.

“Since a large number are stolen from cars, firearms owners are urged not to leave firearms in their cars, especially not in plain view or in an obvious place, and to avoid leaving a gun in a car when valet parking,” the email said.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is also joining the department’s calls to action in light of historic increases in Florida gun sales.

“We ask that our community work together with ATF and TPD to make certain that firearms are secured properly and out of the hands of teenagers and those that want to commit violent crime by use of a gun,” Regina Lombardo, ATF Special Agent in Charge, was quoted as saying.

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